Pocket gas lighter



F. E. GRUBER POCKET GAS LIGHTER Nov. 30, l 954 Filed March 26, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

FIG.

FIC5.3.

Bmaentor FRANCIS E. GRUBER attorney NOV. 30, 1954 GRUBER 2,695,508

POCKET GAS LIGHTER Filed March 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A x? "B I5 I /CC g:

I6 I 25 '6 A 5 In 2o 31wcntor FRANCIS E. GRUBER United States Patent()fiice 2,695,508 lfetestz? 89% ea 125ifewer; 'fdes provi ing asectionalconstruction" lighter which formsthe 1o Ofthin sheet metal to giy and'whichfIfiQY be separately which includes the operat with'itsl'operatingmeans; 7 he I extendsover the no'Zzleof the ligh r. te h he n zzle sIemveable,"

Afnrther featu e residesdin'providing a plastic o1; 11011 3 L v i i ellighter el iq qqi i s, er the P viding a coveringfor the lightrofidifferent colorsfwh'ich to firiishthe'li'ghter iii answered"; r coveringalso covers and Protectsjth" lighter sothat'these bartsdon6t need to be;finished because the'pl'astic 'easifi'g provides the the'outsidesu'rfaceof'tl' elighterf enhances. the appearance of. the. lighter whereit {If desired i in It is also a'f eature to prov de: a lighter which issmall in dimensions and of. such a; character that the lighter ma bfeexpandedat; thebenter to provide as aCe' fofan ink jCtioii valye SO thatWherith tank of the lighter is empty,

thefihjec'fiqn valvdmay"bennetsvered by aslfding p'l'ate earned in'theside wall ofthe' pl'astic'casing, whighfwhe'n' the injection valve whichpierces the cartridge and- 'ple'rmits the}:1 liquid fuel to'b'e"disc'hai'ged"into the tank 'o'f the lig tela'. tun",

A further feature resides in providing a closure valve for the nozzle ofthe lighter which is operated by the hood whichcovers the nozzle whenthe same moves into closed'position. This Closure valve includes a stemprojecting out of the open end of the nozzle'arrcl which is formed witha he'adjon the inner endthereofi A suitable,

rubber washer is; positioned below the'head of;th rod so. that when therod is pressed: downwardiin the; nozzle,

he, rubber v lv dosesthemell openin sleadin om, the gas chamber of; thelighter andshutsoff-:the. flQW, 05-.

gas.- (A shutofivelve similar. in; gh me t to th svalve; which'i providew th a'vi l er s em and a velvehea is sel sedl-i EatentN 1,757 2 1 te M6, 1930,)

It is also a feature to provide a simpletmeansofoperating the flintwheel which iiicludes', a. b ll. r: f: oft r m ta han th t ,1 dr flwhich s adap edf o, b on i; he: hQQL v of: heili h ee mfthe; li hts; sv

thi ght'er the teeth Q15: he flin w ses gheel btetelfwhr as when as 11toward it into closed 'Qsiti e ea es nirolls. ove h e t t b i Wil '1 ullin 33,!

In the drawings" fdi'h'lll'l E e i st fi .l

i h? i t n I ed"detaji l' section through the in; mberi'withthe'jnjec't'ion valve r eh;

, .l Hates in ina l q m (a n of the drawings" thefueli cartridge" hthreaded at 21, and. by mean'sbf the nut-22: which engages thethreads'grlfthe" tank-C eon'nected arid locked to" "the "upper" shellmern' her 23 which carries the operating mechanism adaptedto""thr'owfa"spark to' i'gnite 'the" gas escaping "fromf the nozzle ofthe-lighter; "Thus the li'ghterA is formed in: sections "consisting "ofthe lower section formed by' "th ta'nk-"C and theupper section carriedby theremovablef shell portion 23! 'Ihe'hcrew'24 cl ose sthe lower endof the flint tube 18 "andjs' "ports 'th'sp'r'ing 'ZS/iii positionto'heafrfaga s't Th 1Q fl 3 9 0 the h r A caIr QQ b the means off'thehellportipn zyipcliides the h'arid f "f b'l'e s pi otedat'zgfi khesige'w ls of the 'slots 35,1which e formed in the depending sid Wall s;

ssjaf't a hp wsp'i 15135, wh'eii the lever 21 depressed against thespring 29, the hood 30 s towere the q eiti f? Pi s Simultaneously withthe depressing of the lever 27 the flint wheel 32 is rotatedby theroller clutch member 37 which is confined within'the recess 38 of thehood 30 and is caused to be locked against the teeth of the wheel 33 asthe hood 30 is elevated. This operation causes a spark from thepyrophoric element 26 to be directed over the open end of the nozzle 39.V

The nozzle 39 forms the opening from the fuel chamber of the cartridge Cto permit gas tocscape through the hollow nozzle 39 when the hood 30 iselevated. The gas valve D which includesthe nozzle 39 is removablypositioned in the sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 is soldered or welded at 41to the casing member 15 of the cartridge C. The sleeve 40 is threaded at42, and the valve assembly D is held in place by the nut 43 whichengages the threads 42 .of the sleeve 40. ,The packingring or gasket 44forms a tight joint at the top of the sleeve 45 which supports the innermembers of the valve assembly Dgas well as the nozzle'39. I v p l I Thelower end of the sleeve 45 is formed with a recess 46 in which theporous valve pellet 47 is positioned be tween the filter discs 48 whichare positione,d 'on either side of the pellet 47. A cork orothersuitable retaining member 49 supports the cord-like wick 50positioned in contact with the lower filter disc 48, and in this mannerthe wick 50 acts'to keep the discs 48' and the valve pellet 47 moistfrom the liquid fuel contained in the cartridge C.

The small axial hole 51 formed in the sleeve 45 is adapted to benormally closed by the valve member 52 when the head 53 is pressedagainst the valve member 52 by the valve stem 54. The valve stem 54 ispressed into closed position by the projecting member 55 formed on theinside of the hood 30.

The spring member 29 normally holds the lever 27 in the positionillustrated in Figure 4 and imparts spring tension against the valvestem 54 and the valve head 53 to close the small passageway 51 andprevent the escape of gas from the fuel chamber C when the lighter isnot in use.

It will therefore be apparent that when the lever 27 is depressed, thehood 30 is automatically elevated, the flint wheel 32 is rotated tothrow a spark over the nozzle 39 simultaneously with the opening of thevalve head 53 when pressure is relieved from the stem 54 by theelevating of the hood 3i and the member 55. The pressure of the gasWithin the cartridge C automatically opens the valve head 53, and thegasket 52 raises with thevalve head 53 permitting gas to escape aroundthe valve head 53 out through the small opening 51 and passing aroundthe-stem 54 of the valve. As long as the hood 30 remains elevated oncethe gas is ignited as it escapes from the nozzle 39,-the flame willcontinue to burn. However, when the hood 3% is released into closedposition as illustrated in Figure 4, the valve head 53 is automaticallyclosed by the member 55 striking the other end of the stem 54 and theflow of gas from the tank C is shut off, which also extinguishes theflame by reason of shutting off the flow of gas.

I In the pocket lighter A as illustrated, it is desirable that theconstruction and the dimensions of the same be kept small and compact.The drawings illustrate the lighter in a large form to more clearly showthe details of the construction of the lighter and to show the positionof the flel injection valve B together with the detail parts there- Thefuel injection valve B is illustrated in section in Figure and ispositioned in the thimble member 56 which is welded at 57 to theinwardly turned flange 58 formed in the Wall of the tank C to form a gastight joint between the thimble and the flange 58.

The thimble 56 is formed with a check valve seat 59 which is adapted tosupport the ball check valve 60. Inturned lips 60 hold the ball frommoving out of the ball socket 59. The inner end of the check valvesupport is pointed at 61 to provide piercing means for piercing acartridge which is used to fill the lighter tank C when the same isengaged by the threads 62 which are formed on the inner wall of thethimble. The threads 62 also support the closure cap 63 which isprovided with a sealing gasket 64 on its inner end to provide anadditional sealing means over the pointed end 61 of the check valve. Theball check valve 60 normally closes the opening through the valve by thepressure of the gas within the tank C.

The fuel cartridge E is illustrated in Figure 6. This cartridge has arestricted neck portion 64' which is formed with a thread 65. When it isdesired to fillthe-tank C with fuel, the metal cover 12 is raised toexpose the cap 63 and the cap" is removed. Then the" cartridge "E isthreaded into the injection valve by engaging the threads 62 with thethreads 65 on the neck of the cartridge as the cartridge is threadedhome, pierces the closed end 66 of the cartridge, and the contents ofthe cartridge E are forced by pressure by the compressed liquid fueltherein past the check valve 69 and into the compartment of the tank Cof the lighter. In filling the tank C from the supply cartridge E, thecartridge E is allowed to remain screwed into the injection valve B fora short time to allow all of the contents to pass into the tank C. Thenthe cartridge E is removed and the cap 63 replaced to insure a sealingof the injection valve after which the cover 12 is slid into closedposition as illustrated in Figure 1.

The injection valve B is not illustrated in Figure 4. However, thedotted outline indicates the position of the valve and the thimble 56.The thickness of the lighter A through the center thereof providessufficient room for the injection valve thimble 56 and the valve itselfwithout increasing the other dimensions of the lighter A.

The outstanding features of the lighter reside in a simple light Weightfuel tank C which is covered by theplastic casing 10 as well as theremovable mechanism by.

loosening the nut 22 which provides a sectional lighter, and theremovable valve mechanism D which maybe readily removed by loosening thenut 43 and lifting the sleeve 45 out of the fixed sleeve 40. Thesedetails are important in providing a practical lighter which may bereadily repaired or assembled in an economical manner.

Further, the free wheeling clutch 37 for operating the flint wheel 32provides an economical means which is strong and durable and positive inits action in the operation of the flint wheel 32. a

The closure valve 53 with its operating stem 54 is also of primaryimportance in closing the small passageway 51.

Furthermore, the retarder valve for the gas which includes the filterdiscs 43 positioned on either side of the porous pellet 47 together withthe moistening wick are also of primary importance. more clearly definedin a copending application.

These features are of primary importance in the use, operation,manufacture and maintenance of the lighter, and with this small numberof parts a lighter with .a large number of lights can be carried in thepocket of the user and requires only periodic-filling from a cartridgeE.

I claim: a

1. A pocket gas lighter having a. sealed cartridge body for supportingliquid fuel under pressure which gasifies when released to the outeratmosphere, a removable valve unit including a burner nozzle, a valvestem and valve, a pyrophoric lighter means and operating lever with afree wheeling clutch for engaging the flint wheel of the pyrochoriclighter, a hood for covering said burner nozzleand adapted to engagesaid valve stem to hold said valve in normally closed position andreleasable when said lever operates said pyrophoric lighter means, aplastic cover open at the top adapted to cover the major portion of saidlighter and expose the operating lever thereof at the top, a recessformed in one of the walls of said body a slidable shutter platemoveably positioned between said' valve mounted in a wall thereof, anouter plastic casing having an opening therein in alignment with saidinjection valve, a shoulder formed on the lower edge of said opening, acover plate slideably mounted between said outer casing and saidcartridge body adapted to cover or expose said opening and saidinjection valve and abut said shoulder in closed position, guide meansformed on the inner surface of said outer casing for said cover plate, a

fuel outlet nozzle, and spark producing mechanism mounted on saidcartridge body member.

3. A pocket gas lighter comprising a gas container tank having enclosingwall members adapted to hold a supply of liquid fuel under pressurewhich gasifies when released to the outer atmosphere, a detachable,valve unit for said tank,.a detachable lighter and leverv operating unitfor However, this valve is said tank, a filler valve secured in one ofsaid wall members of said tank, a plastic cover for enclosing the sidesof said tank and the sides of said lighter and lever unit, said plasticcover having an opening formed therein in alignment with said fillervalve, and a slidable shutter plate mounted between the wall of saidplastic cover and said tank adapted to cover or expose said fillervalve, said shutter plate having a lip portion formed thereon for movingthe same and for engagement with the lower edge of said opening of saidplastic cover.

4. In a pyrophoric lighter a tank adapted to hold a supply of liquifiedfuel under pressure, an upper open shell member secured to the top ofsaid tank, a valve nozzle mounted on said tank and extending into saidshell member, pyrophoric gas igniting means mounted on said shell memberadjacent said nozzle, lever means mounted on said shell for operatingsaid pyrophoric means, a plastic casing open at the top thereof adaptedto receive said tank and said shell, said tank having an opening formedin one of the side walls thereof and having flanges extending into saidtank, a thimble member connected to said flanges, a transfer valvemounted in said thimble, said casing having an opening aligned with saidopening of said tank, recesses formed on the inner surface of saidcasing adjacent said opening therein, a plate member slidably positionedbetween said casing and said tank and in said recesses, a lip formed onsaid plate adapted to engage the lower edge of said opening of saidcasing to position said plate in closed position.

5. In a pyrophoric lighter, a tank adapted to hold a supply of liquifiedfuel under pressure, an upper open shell member secured to the top ofsaid tank, a valve nozzle secured to said tank and said shell member forallowing gas to escape from said cartridge, pyrophoric ignition meansmounted on said open shell adapted to ignite gas issuing from saidnozzle, lever means for actuating said valve nozzle, an outer plasticcasing adapted to enclose and support said tank, the upper end of saidcasing being open and the upper edge thereof being substantially in linewith the upper edge of said! open shell, a recess formed on the innersurface of said plastic casing, said casing having an opening formedtherein, a transfer valve positioned in said tank in line with saidopening, a slidable plate mounted in said recess adapted to cover orexpose said opening and said transfer valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,757,231 Battey May 6, 1930 2,034,750 Deming Mar. 24, 19362,424,781 Vanetzian July 29, 1947 2,454,501 Camm Nov. 23, 1948 2,561,270Felt July 17, 1951 2,571,435 Flamm Oct. 16, 1951 2,617,286 Prusack Nov.11, 1952 2,620,643 Nissen Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 156,987 Austria Sept. 11, 1939 585,239 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1947

